Antiside-draft plow hitch



Oct. 5 1926. 1,601,797

P. HANSMANN ET AL ANTISIDE DRAFT PLOW HITCH FiledvNov. 12.. 1920 2 sneets-$heet 1 Her/mm SY/#ack y ez'r fr/mg) Oct.' 5 1926. I I 1,601,797

P. HANSMANN ET AL v ANTISIDE DRAFT PLow HITcH Filed Nov. 12. 1920 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Patented @et 5, lQsa.

'E'.:ZTLUL EANSBEANN AND EER-BEAN STE-ACE, OF LONG-PRAIRE, MINNESOTA, .ASSIGNORS,

BY MESNE ANSIGNMENTS,

rai-"ear orifice.

T0 THE SAID HANSMANN.

ANTSDEBRAFT PLOW HITCH.

Application filed November This invention relates to mechanism for controlling plows hitched to tractors, and more particularly to means tor counterbalancing irregularly hitched loads whereby to eliminate side drc tt, and thereby eectively distribute the work over both traction wheels.

One Object ot the invention is to provide improved counterbalancing means in connection with a. widely offset plow, (relative to the center oi draft ot the tractor), so that it will cut the soil in the trail ot one ot the traction wheels, thereby enabling the tractor to travel on unplowed ground.

Many disadvantages attend the common practice of running one traction wheel in the furrow. l/Vhen the tractor is tilted, both drivers ride on the edge o'f their respective rims instead of on the entire tace there or", thereby seriously reducing the tractionV capacity. Y

Vfhen a plow is hitched in widely ott? set position as above described, one traction wheel is relieved -at the expense ot the o-ther, thereby setting up a tendency in the relieved wheel to circle around the overloaded one.

v.This tendency is checked by constant, tedious operation oi' the steering mechanism to prevent the tractor from running into the plowed ground. Further, the excessive side draft set up at the landside orP the plow, in its tendency to travel in al resultant direction toward the center ot draft ot the tractor, when addedA tothe uneven 'apportionment ot the load mentioned in trie toregoing,v causes the tractor to skid into the adjacent furrow. Especially is this the case with the type of tractor, represented in the accompanying drawings7 which is steered by means of a handle by an operator-standing` on the ground.

A further object of the inventionl is to provide plow connecting mechanism which will remove these disadvantages, be easily handled, and readily adjustable tol accommodate the varying side drafts developed by different sized plow shares.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plow hitch ot the class described having a ground engaging element, which will function as a tractor stabilizer, as anchoring means to oppose lateral movement of the plow during travel, and as part 12, 1320. Serial No. 423,676.

of the steering mechanism whereby the tractor may be quickly and easily turned to change its course.

Other objects and advantages ot 'our invention will be pointed vout at opportune times throughout the speciiication, one form ot' the invention consisting in the construction, combination andk arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings- Fig. l represents somewhat diagrammatically 'a top view of a B-eeman garden tractor yequipped with our invention.

2 is a side view of same, partly in section. n V

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of the combined caster and furrowv wheel supporting and operating mechanism, the wheel not being shown.

Fig. 4 is section on ure 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of' a part or the caster wheel locking mechanism. i

1in@ 4 4. of rig-y Fig, 6 is aI top View, partly in section, of

the draw head ot the tractor and the torward portion of the plow hitch connected therewith. Y

Fig. 7 is a near View ot the locked wheel showingit-set in unlocked position.

Fig. 8 is a single line diagram, representingthe tractor and plow hitch, the behavior of the tractor, und-er several phases ot odset hitching, being graphically indicated.'

VFigs` 9 and 10 are miniature Ydiagramr matic views ot a tractor and hitch illustrat-v at or near the line ot vdraft ot the plow, as is the 'case in the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view ot partsv of the connection, whereby the plow beam isy connected to the plow hitch, and

Figure 12 is a perspectiver view of .a fragment ot the draft tongue upon which is mounted the plow support tor supportingthe plow when out ot use.

A represents the frame, B and Blthe traction Wheels and C the axle and D the.

steering handle of va two wheel garden tractor. E designates the main piv-oted connec-4 tion connecting the steering handle with the easter frame so that the handle will swing in a vertical plane, and F is the rearwardly extending stub pin longitudinally coincident with center of draft of the tractor, which latter is l-ocated midway between the traction wheels. The power unit and its controlling devices usually operable from t-he handle D, are not shown.

As shown, the invention comprises a rearwardly extending skeleton structure or crooked draft tongue G, and a ground engaging supporting element H therefor, adjustably connected therewith. The draft tongue is pivotally supported by means of the pivot pin 1 on the tractor a distance to the rear of thevaXle G, so as to swing in a horizontal plane, and is provided with a laterally extending horizontal arm square in cross-section 2, located near yand behind the right hand traction wheel B1. Removably littino around the stub pin F and tirinly held thereon by the set `screw 3, is the draw head l, formed with two vertically spaced rearwardly extending Vplate members having aligned apertures 6, to receive the pin 1.

The draw head is 4formed with a transverse vertical flat wall 7, spaced from said apertures, said wall being engageable by the symmetrically disposed rearwardly and outwardly sloping flat faces 8, at the forward end of the tongue. `When the tongue is swung upon its pivot to one side or the other of the line a-a (which latter constitutes the center of draft of the tractor) the faces 8 will engage the wall 7 to the right or left, as the case may be, to limit the movementof the tongue. This limited movement is suiiicient to permit the tractor to be rotated bodily about its' neutral center d,

which latter is located at the intersection ofV the airis C with the line 4e-c, so vthat the tractor may be steered from the handle by the operator. This limited movement of the tongue permits the tractor to be steered only to the degree necessary to meet all efigencies arising when plowing in a straight or long sweeping' Vcurved course. The arm 2 may be adjusted longitudinally on the tongue by means of the set screws 9.

The rear portion of the tongue is formed with an S-shaped curve terminating in a laterally offset horizontally disposed hub 10 slidably supporting the outwardly extending squared arm 11, said arm being firmly held positioned in the hub by the set screws 12. Adjustable longitudinally on the arm 11, is the ground engaging element H. rllhis element, (the form shown being of the rolling` type) comprises a sleeve 13 slidable on the squared arm 11, and firmly held positioned by the set screw 14. Extending rearwardly from the sleeve parallel with the tongue, is the cylindrical shank 15, rotatably fitting into the housing member 16,

and adapted to be adjusted circumferential- Y sitioned thereon and rotatably seated on thev top 2O of the housing' is the 'tlanged collar the flange thereof beh iu part l cular, said circular part terminating with in wardly curved ends 2S. lll'idwav between said curved ends he edge of the f A an indent adapted to receive the l!- sliaped noso of the slide bolt S1. rlhe slide bolt is squared at its nose end and is fitted so as to be slidably projected through the lug 32, and into said indent, whereby the shank 19 will be held against rotation. rlhe round no yion of the slide bolt is surrounded by an e nsile coil spring 33 positioned between the shoulder 3ft of the bolt and the lug` 35 of the housing, the bolt passing slidably through the latter and having an eye 36 at its free end. Pivoted in said eye is the locking lever 37 having a rectangular lower cam end 37', whereby, when the bolt is in unloclred position (Fig. 1) the flat end of the lever will engage the lug 35 to hold the bolt in withdrawn position, the stress of the spring holding` the lever outstanding.

Thus, when the wheel locked (Fig. 4l), it will travel about parallel with the direction of travel of the tractor.

ldlhen unlocked, (Fig. 1), the tractor may be swung around its pivot d to any degree desired; the wheel support now having become a caster wheel,` and owing` to its offset wheel readily respondiirg` to the movement of the tractor by promptly assuming a steering position such as is indicated indotted lines. By throwing the lever 37 upwardly, the wheel will automatically assume its locked position the nose of the bolt sliding on the edge of the flange 27 until it registers with the indent 29. The vertical wall of the last furrow is indicated by the line 6 6. Adjustable longitudinally on the arm 2 is the plow frame I carrying the plow share K, the tip 7c thereof extending to the furrow line 5 5. As shown` (Fig. l) the ground element H travels in the furrow cut by the plow share, while the tractor travels wholly on unplowed ground, thereby securing the benefit of the full traction capacity. l

The front end of the plow frame is slidable vertically on the rod 86, having an ad-y justment collar 37. The rod 36 is carried on a bracket 38, by means of a yoke 38", said bracket being rotatable on 'a sleeve, 39, which latter is slidable on the arm 2. A pair of retaining collars 40 on thearm hold the bracket positioned. On the. tongue is the plow rest al, adapted to support the plow frame when the latter is lifted by the handle l2 out of operating position indicated in aotted lines in Fig. 2.

In operation the plow is adjusted on the bar 2 seas to bring the point ,7c of the plow adjacent tothe line ZJ--- The element H is now adjusted on'the arm l1, to canse the wheel to run on the bed of the furrow.

vThe rearwardly directed force, resisting the forward movement of the tractor, tends to swing the tongue on its pivot toward the wheel B. The wheel 24, acting as an anchor on the ground, is located a long distance to the rear of the arm 2, as compared with'the distance between the center of draft of the tractor and the center .of draft of the ,plow (which latter may be assumed to be the plane of the plow frame), said long distance being such as to effectively resist said force, whereby the landside L of the plow will be controlled to hold it in parallelism with the center of draft of the tractor. Thus, the pull of the plow on one side 0f the pivot is balanced by the frictional engagement with the ground of the wheel 24 on the opposite side of said pivot, the latter constituting a fulcrum for the tongue Gr. (The fulcrum is positioned. Yon the tongue so as to form a long and short lever arm.) lithout the use of an anchoring element the plow tends constantly to move in a resultant direction indicated approximately by the line cZ-CZ, thereby setting up a side friction, or what lis known in the art as side draft at the landside of the plow. This side draft is of such magnitude, when the plow is hitched off center, as shown, that a tractor of a given size, can scarcely be held Yby one man from turning to the right into the furrow; or when held, from stalling the engine. By the use of our invention the same tractor pulled the offset plow while the operator held the handle with but one hand, which indicates that the plow resistance has been effectively balanced by the ground engaging element, and the load thereby concentrated in the pivot 1. In Figures 9 and l0 is diagrammatically shown the advantage of placing the ground element in line with the plow instead of in line with the tractor. If (Fig. 10) the plow should meet with a slight vobstruction to render its gait uneven, the tractor will slightly rotate about its pivot vJ, owing to offset relation between the plow K and the center of ground resistance of the truck M, there being a tendency totilt the tongue to the right. In Fig. 9, the ground resistance is direct-ly in line with the plow, whereby the tendency to tilt the tongue is straight line.

In Fig. 8 is graphically shown how the tractor, when loaded olf center will constantly tend to turn upon its pivot. Thelength of the lines c-c represent the magnitude of the pull of the respective `traction wheels, and treating each of these lines as if it were the resultant of two forces we draw the line d parallel with the line al, and tl e line c at right angles thereto. rlhen Z and cl are the components of the force c. The triangles for both forces. C, it willbe noted, are exact-.lyv alike because the load is concentrated at l', d representing the magnitude of that part of c exerted in pushing straight ahead,

and d the magnitude of that part of c y exerted in pushing in the direction of CZ". Concentrating the load at l,- (taking the long dash lines) flappear greater in magnitude than Z (solid-lined) on the right, and correspondingly smalleron the left, which shows that the magnitude of that'part of C exerted in pnllingstraight ahead has only slightly increased on the right; but (dash lines) d on the left has more than doubled d (dash lines) on the right, as thatV the pullin the direction of CZ and 0 on the left, will rotate the tractor about the point J. As the differential favors the relieved wheel,

this will still further increase the tendencyV to rotate the tractor.

On the plow draft line, f represents in magnitude the plow resistance force and g and 71y its components; h representing the magnitude of the part of f which tends *tov push the plow yshare sidewise or in other words-the side draft- I claiml. In a plow of the 1notor-drawn type, a rigid tongue member pivoted on a vertical axis at its forward end to the draw-bar head of the tractor, a bracket rod extending laterally from a rear end portion of the tongue member, a trailer wheel supported on said bracket, a bracket rod 'extending laterally from a point adjacent the forward end of the tongue member, and a plow freely pivoted at the forward end of its beam to said` bracket rod.

2. In a plow of the motor-drawn type, a rigid tongue member attached at its forward end to the draw-bar head Of the tractor, the rearward end of the tongue being end to the draw-bar head of the tractor for limited lateral movement, the rearward end of the tongue being laterally off-set toward the furrow position, a bracket rod extending laterally across the furrow position, a trailer wheel adjustably supported on the rod traveling` in the furrow, a bracket rod Supported by the beam adjacent the forward end thereof and extending laterally toward the fu 1row position, and plow pivoted to the bracket rod to operate to the rear of one of the tractor wheels and forward of the trailer wheel. l

4. In a plow of the ymotor-drawn type, a rigid tongue member attached at its forward end to the draw-bar head of the tractor, the rearward portion of the tongue member being laterally offset, a bracket extending; laterally from said oset portion, trailer wheel mounted on the bracket to swivel pivoted at the forward end of its about a Vertical axis, means for locki fr th trailer wheel against swivelingl movement, a bracket extending laterally from a forward portion of the tongue member, a plow freely beam to said bracket, a bracket hook carried by the tongue on which to support the beam iu araised position'vof the plow," and a rearwardly ,extending handle member carried by the plow.

5. In a plow of the motor-drawn type, a rigid tongue member attached at its forward end to the draw-bar head of the tractor, the rearward portion of the tongue member being,` laterally offset, a bracketextending laterally from said offset portion, a trailer wheel mounted on the bracket to swivel about a vertical axis, means for locking the trailer' against swiveling movement Vat the will of the operator, means for adjusting` the trailer wheel about a horizontal aan parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tongue member, a bracket member extending laterally from a forward portion of the tongiie member, a plow universally pivotedl at the vforward end of its beam to saidv racket, whereby said plow will operate in position forward of the trailer wheel-and lie'rear of a wheel of the tractor.

n testimony whereof we atx our signaa to PAUL HANSMANN. HERMAN STRACK. 

